ET Poll for 2014 elections: Bihar stands with Narendra Modi's attack against Congress

Corruption, economy and terrorism have emerged as the top three national issues among the voters in Bihar ahead of the 2014 general elections. Nearly three in four respondents have expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre over corruption while an even higher 79 per cent have given the Congress-led coalition the thumbsdown over its handling of the economy. The score is only relatively better when it comes to cross-border tensions, with 68 per cent expressing dissatisfaction while 57 per cent said they were not satisfied with the government’s efforts to maintain communal harmony.

If the survey is seen as a reflection of the popular mood, it must come as a cause of worry for the Congress because its principal challenger, BJP’s Narendra Modi, has been concentrating his attack on the ruling party around some of these issues. In his recent rallies, Modi has been seeking a vote for change from the way things are being handled by the Congress-led government at the Centre.

The Congress, on the other hand, seems to be hoping that its rights-based agenda will offset public anger against it on other counts. But the findings suggest the need for the Congress to rework its election strategy to come up with credible solutions to the key issues that are agitating the minds of voters.

On the issue of corruption, the state government led by Nitish Kumar also fared poorly. As many as 61 per cent of the respondents mentioned corruption as a very serious issue. The survey suggests that Kumar, who has brought the state back on the rails, needs to address the aspirations of the electorate. Law and order — a key problem during the Lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi rule — is no longer troubling the electorate.

The electorate is demanding better power supply, educational facilities, water supply for agriculture, healthcare and drinking water, among other things.